🇵🇰These are the Rat Children of Pakistan, also known as Chuwa (rat) in Urdu — named for their small, pointed heads and distinctive appearance. But behind this name is a story that’s dark, heartbreaking, and still largely untold. There are many beliefs about how these children ended up this way. Some say their parents forced them to wear metal caps as babies to intentionally deform their skulls. Others believe it’s the result of incest or a rare medical condition called microcephaly. But why would any parent do this to their child? The answer, sadly, is money. It’s said that families would sell these children to so-called masters for around $500. These masters would then walk them around mosques and shrines, collecting donations from people who were too superstitious to ignore them—believing it would bring bad luck if they didn’t give. I travelled to the city of Gujrat, to the famous Shah Daula shrine, where many of these children were once seen. I learned that the last known child living at the shrine, Nadia, passed away around seven years ago. Shrine keepers claimed the practice no longer exists and that the government has cracked down hard on the exploitation of these children. But the more I asked around, the more mixed answers I got. Some said it never happened. Others said it still does, quietly. Almost everyone knew the story. But what struck me most was how many people, especially in Gujrat, seemed uncomfortable speaking about it — like they were trying to hide a dark past. And the most shocking part? It might still be going on. When I first heard about the Rat Children, I knew I had to come see for myself. Stories like this deserve to be told! #travel #traveltiktok #traveltok #traveling #travelvlog #backpacking #pakistan #pakistani #pakistani_tik_tok #pakistanitiktok #gujrat #punjab #punjabi #punjabitiktok #viral #fyp #dnzhtravels - @dnzh.travels